Roller bearing.



F. WHITNEY.

ROLLER BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1914.

LUAQ. Patented De.12,1916.

, 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. .l /5 ,5

Aff/#ma Mig/aww F. WHITNEY. ROLLERVBEARING.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.9. 1914.

'Patented B60121916.

A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I .la L/@ Mmmm,

eine ra 1 FRANK WHITNEY, 0F HUIBBARD WOODS, ILLINOIS.

nonnina ennemie.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, rateii'tca nec.. ia, iaie.

Application led January 9, 1914. Serial No. 811,244.

To all whom it may concern the invention are to provide an improved y bearing of this class wherein friction and wear are 'reduced tofa minimum; to provide a relatively long bearing surface in a bearing of 'minimum radial dimension and which sustains end thrust in one or both directions; to provide a bearing of unit construction which so unites the elements that tampering therewith by incompetent persons is prevented; to provide a bearing which can be built up of different numbers of sections in order to provide a bearing of any desired length; and to provide means which afford a stronger and greater degree of automatic adjustment of the bearing to take up lost motion or wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bearing wherein the cones or bearing members and the rollers asjwell as the cage ea-nbe made of sheet metal, thus facilitating'chceapening in the cost of manufacture.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as` will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings x-Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section. through a bearing constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the inventiony Fig. 2 is a top plan view partly broken away; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly broken away, of the bearing as shown in Fig. 1.; Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal section of a portion of a bearing of the type shown in Fig. 1, but

4 showing the same constructed of sheet metal;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a bearing adapted' to sustain not lonly radial loads but also end thrust in both directions, and showing the cones or bearing members built up of sections;'Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section of a bearing showing the outer cone or bearing member composed o-f a plurality of sections; Figs. y7 and 8 are detail views showing the construction of a cage adapted for use in a bearing of the type shown in Fig. 6; Figs. 9 and 10 are longitudinal sections of bearings of minimum length and adapted to sustain radial loads and end thrust in both directions.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

Roller bearings embodying the presentinvention are adapted for use in various instances where it is desirabley or necessary to sustain shafts which are subject to relatively lieavy loads with minimum friction and wear.

Of course, it will be understood that in applying the bearings they may be modified to adapt them to their different uses, Vand it will also be understood that the invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown, as equivalent constructions within the scope of the claims can be used.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bearing comprises an inner bearing member or cone 1, an outer bearing member or cone 2, and roller elements interposed between and cooperating with said bearing members. The inner bearing member l may be secured as usual to theshaft and the outer bearing member to the part mounted on the shaft. ln the construction shown in this instance, the bearing mem.- bers have tapered or conical surfaces with which the roller elements coperate. As shown, the outer bearing member 2 has a single conical lbearing surface 3 and the inner bearing member has a Series of conical bearing surfaces `4, 5 and 6, these bearing surfaces just mentioned having the same angle to the same point as the conical bearing surface 3 and being arranged in stepped relation.V Series of rollers 7, 8 andv 9 cooperate on their outer sides with the conical bearing surface 3 and on their innersides kwith the stepped conical bearing sur-faces 4, 5 and 6 respectively. The rollers'vary in 20 the resilient sleeve 10 being retained within rollers as Athe latter .travel through the bearing at the same rate of speed and they re;

volve at the same speed. In a bearing of this-construction, lost motion or wear between the bearing members and the rollers .can be readily taken up by shifting one of the bearing members axially with respect to the other member. Means is shown for taking up this play or wear automatically, it embodying an expansible sleeve 10 which is made by coiling a strip of flat resilient material helically. This sleeve, as shown in connecting members. 15 which Fig. 1, is fitted over the shaft and within vthe inner bearing member 1, one end of the sleeve abutting against a shoulder 12 at the smaller end of the inner bearing member,

rand the lopposite end of the sleeve can be compressed and held under compression by a stationary collar or abutment on the shaft,

--or bearing members; As shown'in Fig. 1, .the cage embodies end plates 13 and 14. be-

tween which the rollers are confined and permanently unite the end plates. One of the end plates (the plate 13 in the construction shown) i abuts against a shoulder 16 on the bearing thereby guided. properly and it is unitedV member 1, while thekinner periphery of the end plate 14 abuts against a shoulder 17 on said bearlng member, the cage vbeing to the bearing member l in a manner which will preventl persons unskilled in the adjustment or repair of bearings of this type vfrom tampering therewith.

Fig. 5 shows a construction which enables a bearinglof any desired lengthpto be provided, the inner and outervbearing members being composed of narrow cones, any number of which may be used. In this instance, the inner bearing member is composed of a `plurality of sections 18, 19,20 and 21 forming conical raceways for the respective series of rollers 22, 23, 24 and 25, and the outer bearing member is composed of conical bearing sections 26, 27, 28-and 29 which coperate withl the outer sides of the respective series of rollersv 22, 23, 24 and 25'. The-bearing shown in this figure is not only capable of sustaining radial loads, but

will lalso sustain end thrust in both direc- .t1ons. -faces of the inner and outer bearing mem- 65" bers 18,119, 26 and 27 have their apices at For this purpose, the yconical surone side of the bearing while the conical bearing members 20, 21, 28 and 29 have their apices located at the opposite side of the bearing. The conical surfaces of the opposed bearing members or sections are preferably of equal angles and the rollers are of cylindrical form. The sections composing the'inner bearing member are preferably united permanently, a sleeve 30 being shown for this purpose, the sections of the inner bearing member being mounted on this sleeve and secured thereon by crimping or Hanging the ends of the sleeve, as shown, and the sections composing the outer bearing member are united permanently by a pair of sleeves 3l-31 which inclose them and areflanged or crimped at their inner ends to secure these sections of the bearing together in pairs. In this construction, means is also provided to compensate automatically for lost motion or wear between the bearing members and the rollers. As shown, a longitudinally expansible sleeve 32 surrounds the sleeves 31*31, the outer ends of the latter being fianged or crimped to provide abutments for theends of the expansible sleeve, this sleeve as shown being composed of a strip of flat resilient material coiled helically `and theends of the sleeve bear against the flanged or crimped ends of the sleeves 31-31, tending to force them and the respective groups of bearing members 26, 27, and 28, 29 outwardly or away from one another and thereby take up automatically any play or wear which may exist between said bearing members and their coperating-rollers. In order to guide and permanently retain the rollers within the bearing, a pair of vcage rings 33 and 34 may be used, these cage rings eonining the outer series of rollers and, as shown, they are connected by the spacing members 34 which maintain proper distance between the cage rings and also space the rollers.

The construction shown in Fig. 6 is similarv to that shown in Fig. l, it embodying bearing members, one of which has a single conical bearing surface/and the other a plurality of stepped conical surfaces. In Fig. 6, however, aninner bearing member 35 is shown which has a single bearing surface 36 and the outer bearing member is composed of a plurality of conical sections 37, 38 and 439 having conical bearing surfaces 40, 4l

and 42 arranged in stepped relation. These stepped conical bearing surfaces are preferably of the same angle as the single bearing surface 26. Series of rollers 43, 44 and 4 5 are interposed between the conical bearing surfaces, these rollers being cylindrical Ain form and varying in diameters to conform to the distances between their respective bearing surfaces, whereby the rollers of the different series will travel within the bearing at the same speed and they will revolve `at the same speed. In lthe construc- Laoaaas tion shown in Fig. 6, the sections composing the outer bearing member are rigidly and lpermanently united by an lnclosing sleeve same construction as that shown in Fig. 1.

rFhe expansible adjusting sleeve 10 is of the same construction as that shown in Fig. 1. A cage, however, of the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 maybe used, the' cage in that instance embodying an end plate 47 having the connecting members 48 formed integrally therewith afld/ bent at an angle toward the end plate 49, studs 50 being fixed to the plate 47 the ends of which are adapted to pass through appropriately locate apertures 51 in the plate 49 and to e yclenched against the outer side thereof as shown in Fig. 7, this construction providing a cage 4which can be applied to unite the rollers as a unit with one of the bearing members and avoiding the necessity of welding the parts of the cage.

In Figs. 9 land 10, bearings are shown which have a minimum length and are capa.- ble of sustaining radial loads and also end thrust in both directions. 1n these cases, the bearing embodies an inner bearing member 52 having reversely sloping'conical surfaces 53 and 54 and an outer bearing member composed ofa pair of sections 55 and 56, the conical bearing surface 57 of the section 55 having the same angle as the bearing surface 54 of the inner bearing member and the conical bearing surface 58 of the sect-ion 56 having the same angle as the conical surface 53 of the inner" bearing member. A series of rollers 59 is interposed between the bearing members, a portion of the rollers coperating with the bearing surfaces 54 an'dn57 and the yremaining rollers of the series coperating with the bearing surfaces 53 and 58. The sections composing the outer g bearing member may be permanently' retained in coperative relation by aperiplieral/sleeve 60 which is flanged at its ends, and a'helically coiled and longitudinal expansible sleeve 6l is preferably interposed between one of the bearing sections l(the section 55 in the present instance) and the inclosing sleeve or casing 60 to automatically take up lost motion or wear between the bearing members and the rollers.

rllhe presentinvention alsoV provides for the construction of a roller bearing wholly of' sheet metal, thereby reducing the cost Yof manufacture to a minimum. An example of such a construction is shown in Fig. 4 wherein the bearingA comprises .a suitable number of conical outer'bearing members 62, 63 and 64, and an inner bearing member composed of conical sections 65, 66 and 67, these conical sections being nested one within the other yand forming pairs of stepped conical surfaces of equal angles. Ser1es of cylindrical rollers 68, 69 .and 70 -are interposed between each pair of inner and outer conical bearing members, said rollers being shorter in axial length than their diameters. By nesting the inner and outer conical bearing members, -the overlapping edges of the members assist in guiding the respective series of rollers\laterally rll`hese yrollers may be formed from sheet metal, each roller having a cylindrical tread or periphery made from a sheet metal disk, the edges of which are drawn up at right angles .and turned slightly inwardly. The nested inner and outer conical members are confined by' the inner and outer sleeves 71 and 72, the edges .of which are crimped, as shown. rFhe series of rollers are guided' by a cageembodying end rings P(i5-and 74 and transverse connecting members 75. Sheet metal cones and rrollers so constructed are sufficiently .accurate vand smooth to a'ord the necessary rolling surfaces, and as the thickness of tlie sheet metal is substantially uniform, the rollers will be of substantially uniform strength on their different diameters. According to the present invention, radially resilient rollers may be used and by constructing the rollers of sheet metal this resiliency is afforded. By constructing the bearing of sheet metal, the expensive operations of cutting the'cones and rollers from solid stock and hardening'and grinding the same are avoided. In tlie bearing shown in Fig. 47 a longitudinally expansible adjusting sleeve 10 similar to that shown in Fig. l may valso be used.

In each construction shown, the conical bearing members are of equal angle, and the rollers are cylindrical, and they advance at the same speed andthe same number of revonently in the housing of the bearing. rllhis is accomplished by providing the ste ped inner 'cones and the series of; narroW- aced rollers of different diameters to coperate with the plain-faced outer cone or bearing member, the differences in the size of the rollers compensating lfor the reduction' in diameter yof the cone. Endwise displacement or any tendency thereto is avoided in plutions, requiring only a single cage to each w all forms shown owing to the cylindrical form of the rollers. 1n the constructions employing the plural number of conical sections, the faceof each section is shorter than Wheresuch cones are used 4the diameter of the roller with which it co operates.

A bearing of this type may be constructed of two or more of such cones and a single series of rollers. v

for both the inner and outer bearing members, the rollers are preferably of the same diameter and in all. forms shown, the length of the conical bearingmembersis les's'than the diameter ofthe cooperating-rollers.

I claim as my invention 1. In a roller bearing, the combination of bearing members, having opposed conical faces of equal angle with respect-to the axis ofthe bearing, the largerend of one face adjoining and offsetting .the vsmaller end of the adjacent face, and a series of rollers cooperative with each of said faces, each face 25 series of .cylindrical rollers coperative .with

Y each ofsaid faces and being of greater diamstepped bearinglsurfaces.

' -ner and outer bearing members, oneof said being of less length than the diameter of the coperating rollers. v 1

2. In a roller bearing, the combination of opposed bearing members one having a plurality of stepped conical facesof equal angle relatively to the axis of the bearing, and a eter than the width of said faces. 3. In a roller bearing, the combination of inner 'and outer conical bearing members,

one of said members having a plurality of stepped conical bearing surfaces, and cylindrical rollers coperative with the bearing members, the diametersof said rollers being greater than the length ofthe cooperating f 4j. In a roller'bearing,the combination of inner and vouter conical bearing members,

A. one of said membershjaving a plurality of stepped conical bearing surfaces, the larger ends of said surfaces adjoining and offsetting the.Y smaller ends of the adjacent surfaces, and series ofcy-lindrical rollers, one series coperative with each of said lstepped conical 1 5. In a' roller bearing, in combination, in-

- members having a plurality of 'stepped coni- -cal surfaces of equal angle relatively .to the angle Aof 'the other bearing member, the larger ends of said surfaces ad'oining and.'

l`-offsetting the smallerl ends of t eadjacent surfaces, and a series of cylindrical rollers 'lengths of the respective surfaces. i 6. In a roller bearing, the combinationof 'coper'ative with each stepped conical surface and having diameters greater than the inner. and\outer bearing.members, one of said'members having a plurality of stepped conical surfacesl of equalgangle relatively Atothe axis of the bearing,the largerf endsof .-said 'surfaces adj oiningv andofsettingithe smaller ends ofthel adjacent surfaces,- and a series of cylindrical'rollers cooperative- 'with eachstepped conical surface, the rollersV of the different series being ofI different diameters.

7. In a roller bearing, the combination of inner and outer bearing members, one of said members having 'a plurality of ste ped conical surfaces of equal angle relative y tov the axis 'of Ithe bearing, the larger ends of said surfaces adjoining and offsetting the smaller ends of the adjacent surfaces, land a series of cylindrical rollers coperative with eachstepped conical surface, said,V`v

rollers. being greater in diameter than the length of ,their respective `stepped conical surfaces.

'f -8. In a roller bearing, the combination of conical bearing members, one having a series :of stepped-bearing surfaces of equal angle,

rollers interposed between and coperative therewith, and means for adjusting said members relatively in an axial direction embodying a longitudinally expansible helij constituting means for laterally'guiding and retaining the relative positions of the cage,

rollers, and the respective bearing member.

10. In a roller bearing, a conical bearing member provided with a plurality of coniedge of the adjoining conical face, 'all of said conical faces being of the'same angle relatively to the axis of the bearing, and a lcage containin 'narrow-faced' cylindrical rollers arrange and retained in groups and adapted to rotatably coperate with said member.` l

11. A roller' bearing provided` with bearing members, having opposed conical faces 'l of thesame an le relatively to the axis'of the bearing, an a cage containing a plurality of series of roller elements, the axes of said elements being offset but -,of the same angle. s

12;' In a rollerbearing, a cage containing la multiple number of rollers whose axial lengths are less than their diameters, said v rollers being arranged side by side in sepacal faces arranged side by side, the larger edge of one conical face offsetting the smaller rately spaced groups, the axes of the rollers lneach group 'offsetting one another. f

13.v In a roller bearing, 'the combination Iof bearing members havil'lg` opposed conical faces of equal angle relatively to the axisof g the bearin and a cage containing a multiple number o rollers whose axial lengths' are lessthan their diameters, said rollers being rarranged side by side. in separately spaced of an axially expansiblel sleeve or bushing c capable of compression within the axial length of one of said members and operative axially 'to maintain the roller elements in close engagement; with the bearing members. f l5. In a roller bearing, a bearing member provided with an axially expansible sleeve or bushing capable of being compressed within the axial lengthof the said member, said; member being provided with an o'setting portion adapted to engage one end of said sleeve. A

16. In a roller bearing, a bearing member provided with an axially expansible sleeve or pushing, one end of which is adapted to cooperate with a groove at the far end of said member to retain the bushing and member together as a unit. f

17. In a roller bearing the combination of coaxial members having conical bearing faces one of which is stepped, each step having, the same angle to the axis of the bearing as the opposing conical bearin face, a number of annular series of cylindrical rollersadapted to work with the opposing conical faces of said members, the rollers of each annular series being of the same diameter andthe rollers of different series being of progressively smaller diameters toward one end of the bearing7 and means for confining the several rollers inplace. Y x

18. In a. roller bearing the combination of coaxial members having opposing conical bearing faces one of which is stepped each step, of one member being at the same angle to the axis of the bearing as the opposing conical face of the other member, and the several steps of one memberfbeing medially intersected by a conefwhose axis coincides with the axis of the bearing, a number of annular series of cylindrical rollers interposed between said members, the rollers of each series being of the same diameter andffthe rollers of di'erent series being of progressively smaller diameters toward one end of the bearing, and means for confining the several rollers in place.

19. In a. roller bearing the combination of coaxial members having opposing conical bearin faces, one of whichis stepped, each step o one member being at the same angle to-the axis\of the bearing as the opposing conical face of the other member, a number of annular series of cylindrical rollers interposedbetween said members, the rollers of each series being of the same diameter and the rollers of Idifferent series being of progressively smaller diameters toward one end of the bearing, and a cage having stepped partitions fitting opposite sides of the several rollers and adapted to confine them in place.

20. In a bearing, a bearing member having a plurality of conical bearing faces arranged .in parallel planes one beside another, and a set of roller elements cooperative with said vconical faces, the width of each conical face being less than the diameter of the coperating roller elements. f

21'. In a roller bearing embodying roller elements of a plurality of diameters, a cage Ahaving pockets having stepped portions of A different circumferential lengths to conform ftothe different diameters of said roller elements. y

22. In a roller bearing embodying roller elements of a plurality of diameters of different dimensions, bearing members having conical bearing faces of equal angle relatively to the axis of the bearing, a cage for spacing and guiding said roller elements rela-tively to said faces, and means for guiding said cage laterally relatively to said members.

23. In a roller bearing, a plain cone-faced bearing member, a stepped cone-faced member, the bearing faces of said members being of equal angle relatively to the axis of the bearing, roller elements coperating between said members, there being a single series of such roller elements to each step, the size of the roller elements of the different series varying in accordance with'` the diameter of the step With which they coperate.

24. In a rollerbearing embodying two or more series of cylindrical face roller ele- Yments, a bearing member comprising a plurality of conical bearing faces of equal angle with respect to the axis of the bearing, and Imeans for retaining said roller elements and bearing member in the form of a bearing unit. A

25. In a roller bearingoembodying a plurality of roller elements bf dierent diam' eters, a cage spacing and guiding said elements, the roller elements of each size being 'arranged in a single annular series and each series paralleling the other series and cooperating between bearing members.

26. In a bearing embodying bearin meinbers having conical bearing faces o equal angle with respect to the l`axis ofthe bearing, a cage containing a number of sets of roller elements, each set consisting of a plurality of roller elements of the same diameter c0- operating in a single annular series with said bearing members, the roller elements in any one set being of a diameter different from that ofthe roller elements in another set.

. 27. In a bearing embodying bearing members having conical bearing surfaces of equal angle with respect to the axis of the bearing, one of which members is step ed, a cage containing a number of sets o roller elements, the roller elements in each set being from that of the elements in another set,y

said cage of roller elements coperating between thebearing members and each .set of roller elements coperating with a different step of the stepped member.

28. In a roller bearing, bearing members having conical` bearing facesof equal angle with respect to the axis of the bearing, a

' cage of cylindrical (roller elements of a luan angle, relatively to the axis of the bearing', equal to that of the bearing face of the rality of diameters, amd means for gui ing said cage laterally.

29.-In a roller bearing, bearing members Y one of which ,embodies stepped conical bearing faces, and roller elements arranged between and coperating with said bearing members, the axial length of each Istepped bearing face being less than the diameter of the roller elements coperating therewith.

30."In a roller bearing, bearing members, one having stepped conical bearing faces of eoperating member, and roller elements ar ranged between and coperating. with the bearing faces of said'members.

' 31. In a-roller bearing, bearing members, one having a plain conical face and the other member having stepped conical vfaces -of an` angle, relatively to the axis) 0f the bearing,

equal to that of the plain conical face of the coperating member, and roller elements arranged between and coperati've with the faces of the bearing members.

32. In a roller bearing, bearing members having conical bearing surfaces of equal angle, with respect to the axis of th/eJ bearing,

vmembers having conical bearing faces, a

cage containing a plurality of sets of roller elements, the' roller elements of each set be-` ing-of equal diameter but differing in diameter from those of another set.V 51. 34. In a nrollerbearing, bearing members having conical bearing faces, the bearing face 'of 011ev member being stepped, and a plurality of sets of roller elements, each set to coperate with a Step inthe bearing sur- Q3 face of one member. and with theI bearing face of the other member, the sets of roller elements being of graduated diameters, the set of larger diametercoperating with that step of the bearing -face of larger diameter i3 andthe set of smaller diameter coperating with that step ofthe bearing face of smaller diameter. A

" `In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of -two subscribing wit` nesses. v Y

. FRANK WHITNEY. Witnesses: v

GRACE C. DnILY, GEORGIAv fxs. 

